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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-13 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF June 13, 2013 MINUTES Board Members Present: Donald Lewis III Eric Mihan Sonia Mallar Marie Grady Commission Consultant Present: Sara K. Martin City Staff Present: Jennifer Boothroyd Chairman Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. NEW BUSINESS Item No. 1: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval to install a projecting sign and an awning sign, William Bart, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. There being no one present to represent the applicant, this item was tabled. Item No. 2: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval to install an internally-illuminated sign, a doorknob, and paint a door, James Gallagher, applicant Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. The applicant, James Gallagher addressed the Commission. He stated that his intention is to open a new business at 200 Exchange Street (Panini Exchange), and proposes a new internally-illuminated sign along with the painting of an existing door and the addition of new doorknob hardware. The door currently does not have a doorknob. Sara Martin stated that the proposed doorknob does not seem to conform to the authentic work of the period of the building. Mr. presented the Commission with a variety of 2 other doorknobs that he was willing to use. The consultant and the Commission agreed that the example of the black doorknob provided by the applicant was the preferred option. Member Mihan made a motion to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval to install an internally-illuminated sign, a doorknob, and to repaint a door at 200 Exchange St, with the condition that the black doorknob option be used as presented by the applicant. Member Mallar seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously, with Members Lewis, Grady, Mallar, and Mihan voting. Item No. 3: Consider a request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review approval to install lighting, remove vegetation and planters, replace pavement and other surfaces, and improve pedestrian access as part of an overall revitalization of West Market Square, City of Bangor, applicant. Chairman Lewis invited the applicant to step to the podium to make a presentation. Amanda Soucier from the City of Bangor’s Engineering department addressed the Commission. She summarized the proposal to revitalize West Market Square through replacement of existing surfaces, new plantings and lighting, and enhanced pedestrian access. She pointed out a change to the proposed plan from that which had been submitted in the application packet; the relocation of some planters and tree grates to allow for the transplanting of some existing trees. Member Mihan suggested that the proposed blue paver pedestrian pathway may not be effective because it is located in an area that is often occupied by outdoor seating for the restaurants fronting on West Market Square. Ms. Soucier stated that the City had designed the walkway as a permanent, year-round feature of the Square, and that restaurant use of that specific area was not considered as part of the revitalization plan due to its seasonal nature. Several Commission members agreed that the blue paver walkway would be more effective if rerouted away from the outdoor seating area. Audience Member Wayne Mallar voiced his concern about various proposals and plans for West Market Square, and wondered if this was the final plan. He also asked about the funding for the project. Ms. Soucier stated that the Council has reviewed the plans and cost estimates, and intends to proceed with the project, all-at-once or in phases, as funding becomes available. Mr. Mallar asked if the project was to proceed in phases, what would be done first. Ms. Soucier stated that the potential first phase would be from Pocket Park along Broad Street to Main Street, and the second phase would be the West Market Square improvements. If funding is available, the project will go out to bid this summer, and construction will begin in the fall. Member Mihan asked whether the new design would include security cameras. Ms. Soucier said that two cameras were being proposed at this time, and pointed out the locations on the plan. Audience member Wayne Mallar asked who would be monitoring the cameras. Ms. Soucier stated that they would be connected to the surveillance stream at the police station. 3 Sara Martin stated that she thinks the plan is great, and that the Square is in need of an update. Member Mihan made a motion to approve the request for Certificate of Appropriateness and Design Review Approval to install lighting, remove vegetation and planters, replace pavement and other surfaces, and improve pedestrian access as part of an overall revitalization of West Market Square, with the condition that the blue paver walkway be rerouted away from the area presently used for outdoor seating by local restaurants. Member Grady seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously, with Members Lewis, Grady, Mallar, and Mihan voting. Additional Business Chair Lewis asked for updates on previous issues. Ms. Boothroyd stated that the Commissioners have received approval for mileage reimbursement to attend the State’s CLG training in September. Ms. Boothroyd stated that there has been some concern voiced by Commissioners about oversights and neglected enforcement on HPC decisions and in situations which should have come before HPC for approval. The City’s legal department has begun a review, with several other City departments, to review the ordinances and identify ambiguities which are allowing for the oversights or hesitance in enforcement. There appear to be several ordinances that do or could be construed to conflict with each other. Member Mallar voiced concern about individual homeowners in historic districts that do not appear before the HPC for such things as roof repairs, façade improvements, etc. The Commissioners discussed whether this was due to ignorance of the law or intent to circumvent the regulations. Various methods for educating the home/landowners in question were brought up, including distribution of HPC brochures to owners via realtors or tax bills, an informational slide on the city’s cable government channel, or a newspaper article. Ms. Martin suggested getting the Downtown Bangor Partnership and the Bangor Museum educated and involved. Member Mihan noted that the increased revenue from more applications coming in may offset the cost of any education program. Ms. Martin reinforced the benefit of having design standards written up for each of the historic districts, which would make it easier for the HPC to make decisions, and for landowners in the district to have a clearer understanding of what can and can’t be done on their property. The marketing and publicity of the process would help in educating the population. Commissioners expressed an interest in pursuing CLG grants for something like this. Chair Lewis expressed interest in signs designating the City’s historic districts. Ms. Boothroyd stated that the City is in the early stages of investigating the separation of Design/Façade Review from HPC’s oversight, to allow HPC to focus solely on the Historic Preservation Ordinance. It is thought that this may remove confusion about the different levels of review for a project, and may also increase response time on projects for downtown 4 business owners. Ms. Boothroyd reiterated that this idea is just being considered preliminarily at this point, and that no decisions have been made definitively. Ms. Martin asked who the new design review committee would be. Ms. Boothroyd stated that there had been talk of an internal review committee made up of staff members from various City departments. Chair Lewis expressed concern about the process being taken out of the public’s eye. He stated that the HPC has had no problem conditioning approvals to prevent an applicant from having to re-appear before them. Audience Member Mallar asked if the public would have any input in design review. Ms. Boothroyd stated that she did not know to what level the public may be involved in a new review system. She also stated that any design review project on an historic property would still come before HPC. Ms. Martin stated that she thinks the two levels of review are confusing, and while she’s not sure the two should be separated, a lot of the confusion could be alleviated with Commission training. Chair Lewis agreed that training is necessary. Ms. Martin wondered if one of the existing Downtown committees in the City could be involved in review. Chair Lewis wondered whether the additional bureaucracy of having to appear before an second committee would be a concern. Member Mallar agreed that the public should be involved. She also brought up the Commission’s ability to meet on an emergency basis when waiting for a regularly-scheduled meeting would be a burden to the applicant. Chair Lewis agreed, and gave an example of an emergency meeting that had occurred in the past. Chair Lewis expressed concern about the bond vote for funding the library’s roof repairs on June 18, with the HPC not having seen a plan for the project. Ms. Boothroyd stated that Code Enforcement is aware that the library is an historic building, and that to her knowledge, the City has not received plans for the project. Member Mallar noted her concern that the roof repair be done with the same materials. Ms. Martin corrected that statement, saying that the repair needs to be “visually compatible”, but does not need to be the same materials. Chair Lewis noted that the Director of Community and Economic Development, who also oversees Code Enforcement and Planning, has resigned. There being no further items for discussion, Member Mihan made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Member Mallar. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.